Webserver Stress Tool

Performance, Load, and Stress-Test for Web Servers

Webserver Stress Tool is a powerful HTTP-client/server test application designed to pinpoint critical performance issues in your web site or web server that may prevent optimal experience for your site's visitors.

By simulating the HTTP requests generated by hundreds or even thousands of simultaneous users, you can test your web server performance under normal and excessive loads to ensure that critical information and services are available at speeds your end-users expect.

FAQs

Webserver Stress Tool simulates lots of users by sending http-requests to a webserver. It works with almost any server based technology like asp, jsp, cfm, or java. Many different load patterns can be generated with this web testing tool.

This web testing tool does not simulate the client based processes (e.g. javascripts or java applets running inside the webbrowser). It simulates the HTTP requests (for webpages, HTML, images, frames, etc.) sent by a computer a user uses to access a website.

Nevertheless websites using JavaScript/Java can usually be tested. Since most client side scripts create nothing else but HTTP requests, it is still possible to test such web sites. You can record the URLs using the included URL recorder for the test or you can write your own script with the URLs to test.

The simplicity of Webserver Stress Tool means any webmaster, programmer, or administrator of a web site can test a webserver/web application under heavy load in real-time. This provides unparalleled ability to quickly adjust webserver configurations for optimal performance (i.e. when a new feature or content is launched).

Any webmaster or network administrator can use this web testing tool with little guidance. If you want to see how simple it is to assess your webserver using Webserver Stress Tool please have a look at the manual.

After running the standard installer it takes a few minutes to configure and start a test. Several users reported to us that they found a long searched bug in their software within 15 minutes after downloading and installing Webserver Stress Tool.

Paessler provides a detailed, printable PDF help manual that is both included in the software and downloadable from this website. Webserver Stress Tool also features the same support content integrated into a helpfile.

Webserver Stress Tool can simulate anything between 1 and 10,000 users. The maximum number of simultaneous users that can be simulated successfully depends on the power of the client machine Webserver Stress Tool runs on, as well as the Windows version used on that machine. E.g. we have tested up to 10,000 users on a Xeon 2.8 Ghz machine with hyperthreading on Windows XP. For details, please see System Requirements.

In most cases when people write us about errors when using Webserver Stress Tool, they have discovered exactly what Webserver Stress Tool is designed to discover: Problems with scripts or webservers that crash or fail when multiple users access it simultaneously. You can be quite sure that you have a server problem if you get errors other than "timeout" and "404." For example, the error code 500 (internal server error) is never generated by Webserver Stress Tool, but by the webserver.

Here are some tips:

Run the test with just one user, increase the number of users step by step. If that works with one or a few users without errors it is almost certain that your website has a problem with simultaneous users

Enable Write Detailed and User Logs and Write Headers to Log and review the user logfiles for hints about the problem

About Us

Paessler AG leads the industry in providing the most powerful, affordable and easy-to-use network monitoring and testing solutions. The company’s suite of just-right software products deliver peace of mind, confidence and convenience for businesses of all sizes – from Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) to large enterprises, including more than 70% of the Fortune 100 companies. Based in Nuremberg, Germany, Paessler’s global reach includes more than 150,000 active installations of its products. Founded in 1997, Paessler AG remains a privately held company and is recognized as both a member of the Cisco Solution Partner Program and a VMware Technology Alliance Partner.